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Religious and World Views Education

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Intent

At St Matthew’s C of E Primary and Nursery Academy the principal aim of Religious Education is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

In line with the 2019-2024 non-statutory guidance for Religious Education, Plymouth SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education) promotes, supports and encourages outstanding practice in the teaching of Religious Education (RE). The agreed syllabus aims to ensure that all children:

1.  make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can:

  • identify, describe, explain and analyse beliefs and concepts in the context of living religions, using appropriate vocabulary

  • explain how and why these beliefs are understood in different ways, by individuals and within communities

  • recognise how and why sources of authority (e.g. texts, teachings, traditions, leaders) are used, expressed and interpreted in different ways, developing skills of interpretation

2.  understand the impact and significance of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can:

  • examine and explain how and why people express their beliefs in diverse ways

  • recognise and account for ways in which people put their beliefs into action in diverse ways, in their everyday lives, within their communities and in the wider world

    • appreciate and appraise the significance of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning

3.  make connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, concepts, practices and ideas studied, so that they can:

  • evaluate, reflect on and enquire into key concepts and questions studied, responding thoughtfully and creatively, giving good reasons for their responses

  • challenge the ideas studied, and allow the ideas studied to challenge their own thinking, articulating beliefs, values and commitments clearly in response

    • discern possible connections between the ideas studied and their own ways of understanding the world, expressing their critical responses and personal reflections with increasing clarity and understanding

Implementation

The Religious Education curriculum is led and overseen by the R.E. lead. A regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice will contribute to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further. 

At St Matthew’s C of E Primary and Nursery Academy, the teaching, learning and sequencing of the Religious Education curriculum is as follows: 

  • • The ‘Plymouth Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2019-2014’ is implemented and ensures pupils encounter core concepts in religions and beliefs in a coherent way, developing their understanding and their ability to handle questions of religions and belief. 
  • • The teaching and learning approach has three core elements which are woven together to provide breath and balance within teaching and learning about religion and beliefs: 

 

  • RE is taught by studying one religion at a time (systemic units) and then including thematic units, which build on learning by comparing the religions, beliefs and practices studied. 
  • • As a Church of England School, Christianity has the largest weighting of teaching across the Religious education curriculum. 
  • • Children have the opportunity to visit many different places of worship and to further deepen learning, religious visitors are organised to talk to the children about their faith, festivals and beliefs. 

Impact

At St Matthew’s Primary and Nursery Academy, we seek to ensure that all children in our school are educated to develop spiritually, academically, emotionally and morally to enable them to better understand themselves and others and to cope with the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of living in a rapidly changing, multicultural world. Through their study of religion and world views, children will develop the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of a range of faiths and non-faith beliefs; they will recognise that these beliefs and practices are important to people and impact the way they live. Through this understanding, children will develop compassion and tolerance for the beliefs of others.

 

Our RE curriculum aims to provide children with a high-quality, sequential, religious education (RE) programme. This is essential to meet the statutory requirement for all state funded schools,  academies and free schools, to teach a full curriculum that prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in modern Britain. Our pupils find learning about all faiths and spirituality highly rewarding and enables them to be curious and objective.  We are always careful to ensure that children receive a broad and balanced experience where they can consider their own views and values.  As a parent, you do have the right to withdraw your child from, part or all, of RE lessons if you wished to do so. If this is something you are considering or would like to know more about please make an appointment to discuss this with the Headteacher. To do this please contact the school office. 

 

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